We finally got to see Michael Jordan play basketball in person tonight, and it was a great treat. MJ led all scorers with 25 and his team, the Washington Wizards, defeated the Trail Blazers by four points. The Wiz led the whole way, but it wasn't a comfortable lead most of the time, so it was an exciting experience.

His Airness was a joy to behold, with one highlight-reel slam dunk on a nice alley-oop pass, and a number of disarmingly difficult jump shots over close defenders. Man, he can still be quick when he wants to be. The Greatest teased his defenders, Ruben Patterson and Bonzi Wells, most of the game, and by the end it seemed pretty good-natured. Every time Michael touched the ball, dozens of flash bulbs went off. On his final trip to the free throw line, with only a few seconds left in the game, you knew you were participating in the end stages of an amazing career.

And then he walked off the Portland court a winner.

In addition to watching Michael's great game, it was also fun to see Wizard assistant coach Patrick Ewing and veteran reserve forward Charles Oakley (injured, I guess) in street clothes on the bench. Lots of great memories from those guys, too.

You've got to root for the Wizards to make the NBA playoffs, just to see more of Michael. His supporting cast is a funky lot, but when he's working up a sweat on the hardwood, it's special.

At the other end, the Portland team doesn't look good at the moment. With Scottie Pippen on the sideline recovering from knee surgery, the Blazers were disorganized. Damon Stoudamire and Jeff McGinnis shared minutes at point guard, and the Wiz's point man, the diminutive Tyronn Lue, was able to score 21 points -- not a good sign for the Blazers' playoff chances. If Pippen doesn't come back healthy, and soon, the Blazers could perform their usual first-round dive.

Their tres eccentric owner Paul Allen was at the game with a hottie in tow; Nike owner Phil Knight was also on hand in his courtside seats. Let's see, how many tens of billions does that come to in just those two chairs?

It's the end of an era for me. I'm dropping out of the little partnership I'm in that owns a couple of season tickets, and so this may have been the last Blazer game for the Mrs. and me for quite a while.

But it was picture perfect. Score one for the old guys.